Five Reasons There’s Never Been A Golden Age of Gaming

If there is one thing I’ll never get tired of in this vast world of so-called “Gaming Culture,” it’s the overwhelming amount of idiocy. I don’t know why, but I’m always entertained at reading ignorant opinions, especially if they come from someone who hasn’t hit puberty yet. So, as you can probably tell, I’m a lurker at GameFAQ, GameTrailers, MLG, Blizzard, and Bungie forums, among others.

With that being said, sometimes I read things that personally strike a nerve. I’m not talking about the basic stupid topics like, “‘Halo’ is the best FPS EVAR,” or how sitting on your ass and mashing buttons should be considered a respectable “sport.” Those things would be way too easy for me to rant about.

Today, our little topic will be the mythical creature called “The Golden Age of Video Games,” or more commonly known as, “The 90s.” Lately many gamers across thousands of forums have been bitching about the reality show called “WCG Ultimate Gamer.” They hate the people on it. They hate the games being played. And they hate how gaming has become less of a social taboo. Of course, they also bring up the topic of the “good ol’ days.”

I haven’t watched the show, so I have no idea if it’s bad or not. I only have two reasons to turn on the TV, outside of playing video games; House and Gordon Ramsey. However, when I read someone arguing about how great video games were in the 1990s or 1980s, I have to wear my goggles and a rubber suit because there is so much bullshit being spewed.

The sad reality of it is, we are so much better off now than we were 15 or 20 years ago. Games have improved greatly, and it isn’t costing us a fortune just to get a mere afternoon’s worth of entertainment. I’m going to shatter the myths of the “Golden Age of Gaming” because I’m rather of sick of cleaning bullshit up in my room. [Continue Reading]

Mega Man 9 Review: Better Late Than Never

For some reason game companies feel compelled to stay on the cutting edge of technology, mostly because they assume that’s what their consumers want. However, on certain occasions that mentality ends of destroying beloved franchises. For years now, Mega Man has been one of those casualties. A franchise that has been around for 25 years or so Mega Man has “evolved” into something completely different from where it started. Fortunately for long time fans of the series, as well as an entirely new generation, the newest iteration of Mega Man has the potential to become a classic of a new kind – hopefully setting the industry down a new path where they embrace their roots. “Mega Man 9” truly kicks it old school.

The first thing that everyone noticed about “Mega Man 9” was the distinct choice of art style that the developers decided to go with. A true throwback to the 8-bit style of the NES, “Mega Man 9” is pixel perfect, and it continues the style of the original, creating an overwhelming sense of nostalgia for anyone that has ever died repeatedly on a disappearing brick. To complete the experience of playing an old NES cartridge Capcom even included an option to turn on or off flicker that was always present in the originals. Well played Inafune-san, well played. [Continue Reading]